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Attorney By Attorney Career Profiles of the Profession Who? Alexandra A. Wrage Senior Counsel -- International Alexandra_Wrage@northropgrumman.com   What? Primary Practice Area & Subspecialty Fields: International Regulatory Law When? Years in the Practice Area: Since 1995 Years in the Legal Profession: Since 1992 Where? Employer: Northrop Grumman Corporation www.northropgrumman.com Size/Sector: $18 billion global defense company City/State: Baltimore, MD Law School: Cambridge University, England (Kings College) Undergraduate School/Degree: Cambridge University, England (B.A Hon) Why? Pluses/Challenges of Practice Area: International regulatory work can involve "company-ending" activities. The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, sanctions and export laws carry significant criminal penalties. Candidates for these jobs should ensure they are applying to companies willing to fund, audit and enforce compliance at a level that protects the company and its employees. Core Skills/Key Knowledge Needed in Your Practice Area: Familiarity with different legal systems, including those where prohibitions are not always codified; ability to work with regulations (sanctions, debarred persons list, etc...) that may change suddenly; desire and ability to work in diverse cultural settings. Advice to Lawyers and Law Students Interested in Your Practice Area: Specialize. Develop first-rate skills in an area that interests you - transactional, regulatory, employment, a specific industry - and then stay on top of the international literature for your substantive area. Work or study abroad if you have the opportunity, master a second language and work on a pro bono basis for international organizations in your area of specialization. How? Career Path to Current Position: I started at a firm before moving in-house. Influences and Mentors: I have worked with some outstanding outside counsel who have set a fine example of consistent, innovative, first-rate professional analysis. Job Search Techniques Used in Finding Your Position(s): International law can be difficult to break into because the practice has no obvious geographic center and it is difficult to get experience early in your career. I learned about my current and former in-house positions by word of mouth. Bar Affiliations and Activities: ABA SILP, WIN Recent Professional Publications: The TRACE Standard: Doing Business with Intermediaries Internationally Recent Professional Presentations: Anti-corruption workshops sponsored by TRACE: Transparent Agents and Contracting Entities in Seoul, Rome and Moscow. Memorable Career Moment: A really satisfying first significant negotiation held in Beirut. Intriguing Interests: I work with a number of international NGOs that are collaborating to find ways to reduce the risk, time and expense associated with doing business internationally and particularly with respect to anti-corruption initiatives.